One of the most important (but often overlooked) aspects of running your company is addressing the question, “How much should I pay myself?” It’s crucial to pay yourself regularly to maintain financial stability. The whole point of starting a business is typically to create financial freedom and security for yourself and your family. But it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day operations and forget to take care of your own paycheck.
Read MoreKnowing where to stash your cash can feel a bit like choosing your fighter in a video game. Each option comes with its own set of powers, weaknesses, and strategies to maximize your wealth. Some of you might be thinking, "Any old bank account will do, right?" Let me stop you right there. Not all bank accounts are created equal — they come in different shapes and sizes, each with its own set of pros and cons.
Let’s look at some of the most common bank accounts. Getting your cash situated in the right spot can maximize returns, minimize fees, and generally make your money work harder for you.
Let's unpack these traits and see how to incorporate them into your financial journey.
Read MoreSimilar to other decisions you’ve had to make on your own, retirement is another crucial financial topic you must diligently explore to set you and your business up for success.
Small business retirement plans vary in terms of structure, benefits, and suitability, depending on the size of your business and team, your financial situation, and your goals. Choosing the right one for your business can feel daunting, but the sooner you decide which plan is right for you, the better handle you’ll have on your retirement planning.
Read MoreIn their book "The Next Millionaire Next Door," Dr. Thomas Stanley and his daughter, Dr. Sarah Stanley Fallaw, delve into the lives of self-made millionaires, revealing some surprising truths. These "millionaires next door" aren't living flashy lifestyles. Instead, they are hard-working people who share six common behavioral traits (“wealth factors”) that paved the path to their financial success.
Let's unpack these traits and see how to incorporate them into your financial journey.
Read MoreIt's that time of year again — tax season is fast approaching! As a successful small business owner, we know you’re busy enough without stressing about gathering receipts, tallying up expenses, and rushing to file your taxes on time.
But fear not! With a few organizational tips and tricks in place throughout the year, you can reduce your tax prep stress and breeze through tax time next year.
Read MoreYou're working hard to build wealth and lead a purposeful life where you have the freedom to make financial decisions that align with your values (no easy feat!). But with a proper plan, those decisions aren't confined to your lifetime.
How is that possible? Estate planning. It's a term you might have heard before, but if you never got to the bottom of what it is, why it's so important, and how you can use it to secure your financial legacy—now is your time to find out!
Read MoreThe beginning of every new year is filled with a renewed focus on health and wellness: eating better, exercising more, prioritizing mental health, and practicing self-care. All these small changes are important to your well-being, and with commitment, they can help you build a strong foundation for a healthy lifestyle.
The new year is also a great time to focus on financial health and improve your financial wellness. The benefits of financial wellness go far beyond financial stability alone. Financial wellness is a holistic approach to your financial health and brings with it lasting emotional and mental well-being that comes with effective money management.
Read MoreJotting down your goals and visualizing their realization is exciting, but it's merely the starting point. Genuine progress happens when we dig deeper and adopt a mindset and lifestyle that aligns with our goals.
This is where establishing financial intentions comes into play. Our intentions propel us forward, even if we temporarily veer off course from an ambitious goal we've set.
Hiring your first employee is like adding a new character to the story of your business. You want to ensure they're a perfect fit, someone who can help you achieve your goals and take your company to the next level. So, let's jump into the exciting world of small business hiring and the employee onboarding process.
Read MoreThe traditional concept of working a 9-5 job for approximately forty years until retirement is slowly losing its status as the standard way of living. Many workers are seeking time freedom, early retirement, flexible and remote working conditions, and ultimately, they want their money to work for them (not the other way around). If you want to step outside (or even just supplement) the traditional employment framework, discover our tips for obtaining a side hustle and creating multiple income streams.
Read MoreSmall business scaling is not just about growing your operations, expanding your team, and increasing your offerings, but doing it sustainably and effectively. If you try to grow your business too quickly or too haphazardly, you could find yourself stuck down the road facing burnout, a lack of vision, or even cash flow problems. Learning effective strategies for scaling your small business can help you anticipate common challenges and discover actionable solutions.
Hiring your first employee is like adding a new character to the story of your business. You want to ensure they're a perfect fit, someone who can help you achieve your goals and take your company to the next level. So, let's jump into the exciting world of small business hiring and the employee onboarding process.
Read MoreEven with the current economy of rising prices, high inflation, and feeling like our dollar isn’t going as far as it used to, Americans are still planning to spend lavishly on holiday shopping, with figures surpassing pre-pandemic levels. And even though they may be more discerning in their gift buying with higher prices and less purchasing power, almost 40% of consumers plan on spending more than they did last year.
Whether you plan on spending as much or more than you have in previous years or stick to a tight budget, minimizing your stress and maximizing your finances can be at the top of your priority list.
Read MoreYou've reached a point where your small business is thriving, and you can no longer be a one-person show. Congratulations! It's time to take that next big step — hiring your first employee. This is a significant leap, and while it might feel a bit overwhelming, we’re here to give you some tips to help make the process more smooth and straightforward.
Hiring your first employee is like adding a new character to the story of your business. You want to ensure they're a perfect fit, someone who can help you achieve your goals and take your company to the next level. So, let's jump into the exciting world of small business hiring and the employee onboarding process.
Read MoreIf you’ve never created a budget before and have no idea where to start, it can feel overwhelming and to be perfectly honest, not much fun. However, helping our clients create their very first budget is one of our favorite tasks because we know budgeting is the launching point of an organized and intentional financial life.
While a budget is not a cure-all for all the financial woes you may be experiencing — in fact, most Americans do have a budget and still struggle with overspending — it’s still helpful to craft and utilize.
Read MoreEnsuring that all of your resources are being maximized to their full potential is an essential part of managing your business well. Time management also helps you adapt to the ever-changing business environment, allowing you to keep up with new challenges and embrace new opportunities.
We want to share some of our favorite time management hacks that help keep our business (and personal lives) running smoothly and efficiently.
Read MoreDebt can be a necessary tool that allows us to accomplish major dreams like getting a college education, starting a business, funding our first car, or purchasing a home. However, some consumer debts, like credit cards and personal loans, are sometimes the result of poor financial discipline and planning.
If you’re struggling with lingering debt and want to know how to get out of debt quickly so you can move on to bigger and better things, we've got you covered!
As a small business owner, you are (by no official definition) a unicorn! Your business origin story is unique, your leadership style is unlike others, and you solve problems and handle challenges in your own way.
So while we don’t want to discredit your uniqueness, we do want to point your attention to a common small business life cycle that most entrepreneurs experience. Knowing these stages can help you prepare for upcoming challenges, face current struggles, and be equipped with knowledge and skills for the future.
Read MoreAs a nation, we are very generous with one of our most precious resources: money. In 2020 alone, Americans gave $471 billion to charities. And with over 1.54 million charitable organizations (in our country alone) to choose from, it’s not hard to find a worthy cause.
Many small businesses also encourage their employees to give their time and talents by volunteering locally. Small businesses often give more than their big business counterparts— 75% of small business owners give approximately 6% of their profits to charities every year.
Your small business is up and running, but do you need a jump start when it comes to digital marketing? In today's technology-driven era, having a killer digital marketing strategy is essential for small businesses looking to carve out their slice of the online pie.
Read MoreWe've all probably encountered a terrible leader at some point, and it's not hard to remember exactly why they left such a negative impression on us.
These are the leaders we've known to micromanage to the point of obsession, lack even an ounce of empathy, and even abuse their authority to intimidate. There are countless examples of "leaders" who repeatedly miss the mark, wasting their opportunity to build others up by instead tearing them down.
On the other hand, exceptional leaders are like a rare gem that is difficult to come by. It's precisely these leaders that we all aspire to work or collaborate with. Your growth and personal development in this one key area can have an immense affect on your bottom line.
Read MoreMost people don’t love the dreaded “B” word. The term budget can conjure feelings of restriction and thoughts of cash envelopes and eating ramen and beans.
Others may think it’s completely unnecessary because they make decent money and don’t struggle with debt. Or maybe others have been previously shamed for being unable to stick to a budget.
The truth is, everyone can benefit from a budget because it’s really just a plan for how you’re going to spend your money. You most likely have career plans, dinner plans, and vacation plans. Why not a plan for how you spend one of your most valuable resources?
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